Make the most of your Vote

Many of us will have the opportunity to vote this week, but how does our faith impact on the way we will vote?  I just want to think about a couple of principles - and these are far from exhaustive - which ought to guide us.

1. Don't be conformed in your thinking
How do most people decide how to vote?  They read the booklet or leaflets and pick as consumers, which candidate or party will most benefit me.   Or they vote as they have always done for a favourite political party, or the family party.  But there must be something distinctly Christian about how we think about such things.  Our faith impacts even how we vote, it challenges our conformity to the way the world thinks, live and votes.  We must not unthinkingly or prayerlessly vote how we have always done, or based on a what is best for me attitude.

2. Be tranformed
So how does our faith impact our thinking and consideration of candidates.  I'm not going to be party political but simply seek to sketch out some principles which will focus our transformed thinking: 

a. Where can I do good to my neighbour?
Instead of thinking who is best for me personally think about who is best for the most marginalised and oppressed people in society.  Is the person who is promising no council tax increases necessarily the best person for the poor and marginalised in your area if that means cutting the kinds of services and support they need?  Would paying a few more pounds a month harm me as much as the loss of a children's centre would harm marginalised and underprivileged families?

b.Who is protecting the widow and alien?
The Bible reveals to us God's heart for the widow, the fatherless and the alien and it shows us that God expects his family to share the family concerns.  This must impact the way we vote, which party or candidate will be a voice for the voiceless?  Who is protect those who are most vulnerable?

3. Politics will never bring the Kingdom
Jesus had to teach his disciples repeatedly that the kingdom he ruled was not a political kingdom and it is still not a political kingdom.  Christendom in the UK is dead and long past resuscitation and I don't think we should be trying to do so.  No matter who is elected into whatever positions they will not bring about the kingdom of God in our towns or cities.  The kingdom of God comes through the people of God together displaying the life of God in their midst and holding out the gospel to a world desperately in need.  So lets think, pray, and vote, but realise politic will never bring about God's kingdom the church will be a display of its joy until Christ returns and brings about his kingdom.  Political good will and action can never end poverty or minister to the whole person the church can.

But this realisation mustn't disillusion us so that we don't vote, it ought to spur us on to vote distinctively and reach the world with the only message that can save and redeem the world one life at a time.